10305 Lion Knights' Castle 90th anniversary set

[Classic_Spaceman]

1 hour ago, Follows Closely said:

I quit buying the collectable figs when the bar codes did not reveal the fig. I Am not wasting time feeling bags, or money trying to get the one or two I am interested in per series. I suspect that LEGO did the right thing though. 

BrickLink is a good option for buying just the Minifigs that you want, but prices can go up very quickly once a series retires! 
 

[AmperZand]

@richchie, How many pieces are in your castle?

(By the way, your armies and LotR creations are great!  You should avoid exposing your LEGO to sunlight though. Sunlight is not LEGO’s friend.)

[Itaria No Shintaku]

These are some guesses for the set.
Please note: they are not rumours or leaks. Just guesses.

1) The Dark Orange horse from the city set will appear in this set.
2) We will have both Lion Knights AND Black Falcon here. Like the Black Falcon being the enemies or something like that.
3) Some more cameo may be expected. Perhaps a forestman or a wolfpack? 
4) I expect around 20 minifigures to be in.
5) I do not expect any dragon to be in.

[SirBlake]

1 hour ago, Itaria No Shintaku said:

These are some guesses for the set.
Please note: they are not rumours or leaks. Just guesses.

1) The Dark Orange horse from the city set will appear in this set.
2) We will have both Lion Knights AND Black Falcon here. Like the Black Falcon being the enemies or something like that.
3) Some more cameo may be expected. Perhaps a forestman or a wolfpack? 
4) I expect around 20 minifigures to be in.
5) I do not expect any dragon to be in.

1) I agree. Good chance of that one. I bought the horse trailer set just so I could have a momma mare for the CMF foal.
2) I personally would prefer a visiting updated Dragon knight (Black Knights in Bricklink parlance) and squire in the joust. We already have falcons.
3) Yes! Forestmen and/or Wolfpack would be greatly appreciated.
4) 20 sounds good. More is better, but 20 well-picked and presented is better than more blue/white stripe pirate torsos thrown in a castle. (looking at you, 31120)
5) I'd be fine without a dragon, but we sort of got two in 31120 (big green one, little red one), and it was otherwise pretty well grounded in reality, so who knows?

[Lion King]

3 hours ago, Triceron said:

I think the CMF series are doing really well supplementing different fantasy characters.  I've got a couple Goblins, Dwarves, and I've been considering picking up some fairy wings on Bricklink or Build-a-Minifigure for a custom fairy for my Forestmen set.

Personally, I'd only want a dragon only if it were a figure.  I wasn't a big fan of the Brickbuilt one from the Creator castle, and I think those pieces could have been put to better use elsewhere.

Agreed on CMF sereis. We do have a Wizard from Series 12, Goblin from Series, Centuar from Series 21, etc. but I think a fairy micorfigure would be perfect for its size (for example, a baby minifigure with wings).

Agreed on dragon figure. I don’t like brick-buildable creatures either. It’s real shame that we haven’t seen a dragon mold from 1990s or Hungarian Horntail from Harry Potter theme in 2005. 

[Classic_Spaceman]

1 hour ago, Itaria No Shintaku said:

We will have both Lion Knights AND Black Falcon here. Like the Black Falcon being the enemies or something like that.
Some more cameo may be expected. Perhaps a forestman or a wolfpack? 
I expect around 20 minifigures to be in.

46 minutes ago, SirBlake said:

I personally would prefer a visiting updated Dragon knight (Black Knights in Bricklink parlance) and squire in the joust. We already have falcons.
Yes! Forestmen and/or Wolfpack would be greatly appreciated.

I think that with around 20 Minifigs, we could probably get both Black Falcons and Black/Dragon Knights: 
1-6): Crusaders/Lion Knights Guards 
7,8): Crusaders/Lion Knights Mounted Knights 
9): Farmer/Peasant Man 
10): Peasant Woman 
11): Peasant Boy/Stable Boy 
12): Peasant Girl 
13): Forestmen Prisoner 
14): Black Falcons Mounted Knight 
15): Black Falcons Guard/Squire 
16): Black/Dragon Knights Mounted Knight 
17): Black/Dragon Knights Guard/Squire 
18): Innkeeper 
19): Blacksmith 
20): King 
 

 

Edited March 22, 2022 by Classic_Spaceman

[Triceron]

36 minutes ago, DBlegonerd7 said:

Agreed on CMF sereis. We do have a Wizard from Series 12, Goblin from Series, Centuar from Series 21, etc. but I think a fairy micorfigure would be perfect for its size (for example, a baby minifigure with wings).[/quote]

I think the closest thing we probably have would probably be the Cornish Pixies from Harry Potter, though they look more like mischevious sprites than a wish-granting fairy

There might be something from the Lego Elves line too as a fill in, but it looks like they have more pet-like creatures than actual fairies.

I'd been using some of the Harry Potter sets to fill in my Castle/Fantasy armies.  The Dementors with a swapped head make great Wraiths, I have Aragog as a base for a Drider, and I have Buckbeak, a Thestral, and Harry's Patronus as mythical beast mounts.  I was happy that they did a Centaur for CMF series, I wish they did much more for expanding fantasy lego outside liscenced sets.

Edited March 22, 2022 by Triceron

[Lion King]

7 minutes ago, Triceron said:

I think the closest thing we probably have would probably be the Cornish Pixies from Harry Potter, though they look more like mischevious sprites than a wish-granting fairy

There might be something from the Lego Elves line too as a fill in, but it looks like they have more pet-like creatures than actual fairies.

I totally forgot about Cornish Pixies! But yes, yes, somehting like that. That’s the perfect example you ahve that i was talking about. 

[SirBlake]

23 hours ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

I think that with around 20 Minifigs, we could probably get both Black Falcons and Black/Dragon Knights: 
1-6): Crusaders/Lion Knights Guards 
7,8): Crusaders/Lion Knights Mounted Knights 
9): Farmer/Peasant Man 
10): Peasant Woman 
11): Peasant Boy/Stable Boy 
12): Peasant Girl 
13): Forestmen Prisoner 
14): Black Falcons Mounted Knight 
15): Black Falcons Guard/Squire 
16): Black/Dragon Knights Mounted Knight 
17): Black/Dragon Knights Guard/Squire 
18): Innkeeper 
19): Blacksmith 
20): King 
 

 

I really like this list. Only change I wouldn't mind seeing is a different version of the minstrel/bard from the latest CMF series. It'd be fun to get a band going. 

Also, a Herald with a trumpet would be cool.

[Alexandrina]

On 3/22/2022 at 10:55 PM, Classic_Spaceman said:

I think that with around 20 Minifigs, we could probably get both Black Falcons and Black/Dragon Knights: 
1-6): Crusaders/Lion Knights Guards 
7,8): Crusaders/Lion Knights Mounted Knights 
9): Farmer/Peasant Man 
10): Peasant Woman 
11): Peasant Boy/Stable Boy 
12): Peasant Girl 
13): Forestmen Prisoner 
14): Black Falcons Mounted Knight 
15): Black Falcons Guard/Squire 
16): Black/Dragon Knights Mounted Knight 
17): Black/Dragon Knights Guard/Squire 
18): Innkeeper 
19): Blacksmith 
20): King 
 

 

I really hope they don't use up minifigure slots giving us three different factions of soldiers. Lion knights are a certainty if the set title is accurate, and I'd imagine they'll include a Black Falcon while the parts are in production (how many sets over the years have had a token 'enemy' figure as a prisoner?)

But this is an opportunity to get other kinds of minifigure. We'll probably continue to get one off sets every few years even if Castle never returns as a full theme, so there's ample opportunities for old factions to be modernised (and with B&P, every AFOL who wants to army build a faction will have no trouble doing so!!)

Other figures are far harder to fit in one-off sets that are more Blacksmith size than Lion Castle size. I can guarantee that there'll be another set released in the next five years with a medieval knight included. What about lords and ladies, liveried servants and maids, horsemasters, stewards, etc.? If we're having lots of figures, I hope we have lots of different types of figure.

[DaleDVM]

It isn't going to happen but, I wouldn't care if they gave us 8 different soldier factions.  If they appear on B&P I can get several large factions rolling.  What I do not want is 10+ of the minifigs to have the same lion/falcon torso.

I do understand wanting more in the way of non-soldiers/civilians.  That is my biggest desire as well.  I am hoping for at least 2 different non-noble female torsos/skirt.  Peasant figs are rare and female peasant figs are even worse.  The percentage of Kings and Queens to peasantry released over the history of castle is understandably way out of whack.  I just hope this set will give us more "commoner" options.

I love the idea of another different musician...

 

[Gorilla94]

I hope for neutral chainmail and "middleclass" clothes including metal belts and so on. I can make a simplistic peasant design like in the fantasy castle sets within a short time and let them be printed on Lego pieces by 3rd party customisers for acceptable prices. The only thing the customisers I know are unable to do is metallic colours, so I want Lego to give us as much of that as possible.

[Lion King]

I don’t think we will get more than 1 - 2 fractions of soldiers in this set. I’m just okay with lion and black falcon knights. 

[zoth33]

3 hours ago, DBlegonerd7 said:

I don’t think we will get more than 1 - 2 fractions of soldiers in this set. I’m just okay with lion and black falcon knights. 

Just curious why do you say fractions?  I would be ok with just the lion knights as we have the black falcons still in circulation.  We do need more civilians a baker, cobbler, butcher, etc would be nice.  Some printed capes would be nice too.  

[SirBlake]

20 minutes ago, zoth33 said:

Just curious why do you say fractions?  I would be ok with just the lion knights as we have the black falcons still in circulation.  We do need more civilians a baker, cobbler, butcher, etc would be nice.  Some printed capes would be nice too.  

Judging by context clues, I'm sure he meant "factions".

[zoth33]

4 minutes ago, SirBlake said:

Judging by context clues, I'm sure he meant "factions".

That's what I thought but he seems to say it a lot so I thought maybe I was missing a joke or something.  

[SirBlake]

1 minute ago, zoth33 said:

That's what I thought but he seems to say it a lot so I thought maybe I was missing a joke or something.  

Perhaps an autocorrect issue?

[DaleDVM]

fractions will never show up on autocorrect because it is a real word...  

They will have at least a second faction in the set as someone to fight against.  At the very least a jousting opponent for the lion knight.  I am really hoping for a faction other than the black falcons.  Perhaps even two if some forestmen are included.  drool... 

Hey...  A guy can dream!

[Agent Kallus]

On subject of figures, I'd hope the majority of new figure prints budget goes on Torsos, seeing as heads from other themes work well enough and legs are a lower priority both in terms of printing and uniqueness.

 

[Lion King]

2 hours ago, zoth33 said:

Just curious why do you say fractions?  I would be ok with just the lion knights as we have the black falcons still in circulation.  We do need more civilians a baker, cobbler, butcher, etc would be nice.  Some printed capes would be nice too.  

Lion and Black Falcon knights / soldiers totally make sense, leaving minifigure slots open for civilians, nobilities, and royal family. I don’t want more fractions of knights (lion, black falcon, black/dragon knights) taking some spots. And I love your ideas (baker, cobbler, etc, by the way!

2 hours ago, SirBlake said:

Judging by context clues, I'm sure he meant "factions".

Yup i tried to say that word! Stupid autocorrect. 

I often misspell or make autocorrect without realizing spelling errors, thanks to my low vision (Just fyi I’m legally blind). 

[TeriXeri]

For factions, I think it really depends what LEGO's goal will be.

If it's just meant to represent the first grey castle era (1984-1987) it's probably mainly Crusaders, some Forestmen and some Falcons.

Crusaders and Forestmen did continue into the early 90s but Black Knights did clearly replace the Falcon Knights, and later evolved into Dragon Masters in terms of design after 1993 (there was a dragon master knight using a black knight emblem shield in a 1995 set even)

I rather see fewer factions and some details of those instead of just dilluting the pool of characters for the sake of inclusion.

Having 2-3 factions and some civilians is better then just having 4+ knight factions imo, a lonely glow in the dark ghost or wolfpack bandit might work but a knight is usually part of a bigger "army" in such a big set.

 

Currently Falcons are obviously in production, Forestmen can be as well as the parts are in production.

 

If a greater era of Castle is celebrated it could get a bit more complicated in terms of moulds as well.

Wolfpack cowl was last used 2016 so still fairly recent.

Black Knight / Dragon Knight use a lot more specific helmets, and also specific horse-helmets.

Helmet ornaments like these haven't been made in almost 20 year.

 

Edited March 24, 2022 by TeriXeri

[SirBlake]

Yeah, but I think TLG has shown that they don't mind paying homage to a classic faction without sticking to all of the details. The CMF Rogue with the Wolf Pack emblem is a good example of this.

 

From a "best stand alone product" standpoint, it probably makes the most sense to to include a couple of figs from a rival faction (Falcons makes the most sense there). From an AFOL castle collector standpoint, I would prefer as many unique figs as possible, as Bricks and Pieces has gone a long way to help supplement my armies.

[Lion King]

21 minutes ago, SirBlake said:

From a "best stand alone product" standpoint, it probably makes the most sense to to include a couple of figs from a rival faction (Falcons makes the most sense there). From an AFOL castle collector standpoint, I would prefer as many unique figs as possible, as Bricks and Pieces has gone a long way to help supplement my armies.

Exactly, I agree. It’s what I am trying to say above - I think two factions (finally I spell it right, lol) make sense for this set - heroes and their rivals… I would love to see more different civilians. I wish we could know piece counts soon and number of minifigures soon…

[Lion King]

You amy think I am crazy - but I kinda hope there would be skeleton minifigure (with helmet on) stuck inside a prisoner cage in dungeon (I doubt the set will have dungeon tho?)

[TeriXeri]

Falcon and Crusader make the most sense for sure, both had a castle each in 1984 and were depicted together in sets multiple times.

6062 clearly shows a Crusader battering ram attacking some section of Falcon walls.

Maybe I judged the Black Knight faction too soon, 1988-1991 used the simpler helmets and shields without the special dragon plumes, so LEGO could recreate them with prints.

 

1992 Black Knight were a lot closer to 1993 Dragon Masters in terms of oval shields.

1992 was also the year where Wolfpack basicly replaced Forestmen as the bandit faction.

23 minutes ago, DBlegonerd7 said:

You amy think I am crazy - but I kinda hope there would be skeleton minifigure (with helmet on) stuck inside a prisoner cage in dungeon (I doubt the set will have dungeon tho?)

I personally don't think there should be a skeleton if LEGO intends to keep it era-appropriate, a Ghost would be a much better fit, and also hasn't been made in a long time, LEGO has been making quite a bit glow in the dark recently again (especially Monkie Kid Lady Bone Demon sets and figures)

I don't think there's a whole lot of demand for regular skeletons either, as often they aren't even counted as minifigs by AFOL, in sets like the 3-in-1 Pirate ship or Castle for example.

Of course I'd like to see more uses of the Ninjago Skeleton torso and Head but I don't think that's really fitting for a 90th anniversary Castle set either.

Edited March 24, 2022 by TeriXeri